A Star is Born Again... With Bradley Cooper as Midwife.
Wednesday, March 25, 2015 at 2:30PM A Star is Born is like the undead of showbiz movies. Every so often it rises from the grave. The oft told tale of a young actress whose star rises as her alcoholic svengali husband's star falls has four film versions What Price Hollywood? (1932) A Star is Born (1937) A Star is Born (1954) and A Star is Born (1976), the latter shifting the story to the music world instead of the movies. Incredibly ALL of them were Oscar nominated for something or other for a total of 18 Oscar nominations, 3 wins and an Honorary plaque to boot! But we've actually gone without it for quite some time now. The last version, the Streisand (critically reviled but a major hit), was a full 39 years ago so it's unsurprising that there's been talk of a remake for quite a while now. Especially considering that each version has ranged from somewhat successful to blockbuster sized and statistically you'll receive about 4 nominations and an Oscar for your troubles should you make your own.
What was surprising, apart from Oscar security, about the proposed fifth version was that Clint Eastwood was the one that wanted to do it. With Beyoncé no less! So Streisand's music-word detour for the unofficial franchise stuck... at least with ol' Clint. Despite Eastwood's Barry Allen-like speed, that ability to take a project from glimmer in his eye to finished movie in theaters in 6 months, he somehow never got it made and has now passed the project on, supposedly to...
Bradley Cooper (?) his American Sniper star. Cooper wants Beyoncé back on the project who has vacated it since it entered development hell.
So saith several outlets and noisy funny twitter. Bradley will also star in it. Why an actor at the heighth of their white hot career would want to try directing is a little puzzling -- don't get distracted, secure your possible place in the pantheon of movie stars! -- but Coop wouldn't be the first. Costner, Gibson, Eastwood, Foster, and Jolie all moved over while they were still bankable movie stars... some to stay in that chair and lose interest in acting altogether.
Related / Recommended:
Mike's Movie Projector found an original review from 1954 of the Judy Garland version.
TFE and you can always revisit our Best Shot episode on that classic film Or...
Nick's Flick Picks incredible piece on Judy Garland's five-star performance
Reader Comments (22)
I'm agnostic about the whole affair - although I wish they would keep it in the movie world, rather than the music business. I think the Streisand film left a really trashy blueprint on the material - and I hope Cooper and the Warners are able to transcend it... Beyoncé notwithstanding, I think the leading player HAS to be a major star in her own right - I almost died when Esperanza Spalding was mooted as a replacement in Clint Eastwood's version. Why not involve Ms. Jennifer Lawrence, and relocate the story to the New York stage?
Did you remember a story that said that this Beyonce version was inspired by Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love? Like Beyonce playing Courtney directed by Clint? Most bizarre movie ever.
That said, I'd LOVE to see Cooper and Lawrence together again in this movie. David O. Russell should direct.
Please, PLEASE, Brad, don't do this.
Why does Hollywood always pick established superstars in their early 30s to play an unknown in "A Star is Born?"
Ah, Anne Hathaway. If they won't cast her in this, why can't they finally get her Judy project off the ground? (I love how her Wikipedia page states that this already happened in 2010.)
rick gould: You know what, that is weird. Garland gives a great performance and everything, but I would agree that it's bizarre that all three currently released takes on "A Star is Born" happen right when the star involved is about to fade due to Hollywood sexism.
I kinda dig this idea but Beyoncé can't act, can we get someone else to do it. I know they want a big name star so we'll be stuck with her, but what about someone from Broadway? Idina Menzel, hello!
I will never understand the need to remake what is already perfect. Hopefully it will have a good soundtrack at the very least.
Say it with me now people: Megan Hilty!
Honestly, I'm kind of at the saturation point with Beyonce-she's definitely crossed that line into worship and while she's beyond gorgeous and insanely talented, she's not the zenith of pop music or as revolutionary as someone like Madonna, for example, and her acting is atrocious. Jennifer Lawrence would actually be kind of interesting, but I think someone like Megan Hilty or Laura Osnes would be so much more interesting. Someone who actually hasn't been discovered by the mainstream in a major way.
A music industry version is especially ridiculous in 2015 since winning a Grammy is easy. Wasn't BEYOND THE LIGHTS sort of a twist on this story, too?
Was just thinking that, Glenn. And it was ORIGINAL.
I know this is a wildly unpopular opinion but I've always felt that a more adept director of actors than Bill Condon could've at least coaxed out a more exciting performance from Beyoncé in Dreamgirls. I mean, surely she of all people, short of Diana Ross that is, is highly-familiar with girl group drama (paging LeToya Luckett) and obviously knows what it's like to be pushed so vigorously as a star by a personal svengali, even at the expense of hogging the spotlight from other friends and performers. I agree that the end result was pretty much a bore, but seeing as how no one else in that film really warrants any strong praise (save for Murphy, occasionally Anika Noni Rose, and Hudson, but only when she's singing), I can't help but blame Condon most of all for failing to actually push those actors beyond their standard modes. I agree that this remake is all but needless, but I guess I'm not actually against the Beyoncé possibility as everyone else seems to be.
Audra McDonald!
I had never read Nick's comments before. Thank you for linking it.
You guys act like Beyonce was completely inept in "Dreamgirls." She was not. And let's hope that if cast, she'll rise to the occasion and shine (maybe she'll get an acting coach again). I'm more meh about Bradley Cooper as the male lead. Would an all-black version of this story be too much to ask for, Hollywood? Nate Parker? Tyrese? Michael Ealy? Terrence Jenkins? Usher? Romany Malco? Chiwetel Ejiofor? Nothing about this story has to be inherently lily white. And I'll gag myself to sleep if I have to see Jennifer Lawrence in yet another uninspired pairing with Bradley Cooper just because they're so "perfect" together. Bye, Felicia!
Coopers superstardom is already cemented now, why wait to direct if that's what he wants to do ? I think he's very intelligent and a great artist so I trust he won't be going into this unless he thought he would do a great job.
I love Megan Hilty and Idina Menzel and they are super talented and amazing but 'A Star Is Born' needs someone who can convincingly make you believe that they will be a superstar. Beyonce is one of a handful of current stars that for me fit this category.
I'm not adverse to a remake if the right elements were gathered together , though I doubt that the Judy version will be topped, the way things stand now they aren't.
First-this is an awfully big undertaking for a first time director particularly if he plans to also star in it. So asking for trouble.
Second-I like Bradley Cooper but he's wrong for Norman Maine. Someone along the lines of Sean Penn or even Brad Pitt, someone with a bit of wear around the edges would make more sense of a star on the down slope.
Third-Beyonce? She very pretty but Esther Blodgett is a meaty complex part that requires a great deal of emotions be run through. She's never shown that kind of ability and a first time director probably won't be able to draw it out of her.
Fourth-They want to use the Streisand version as their template? I love her and even if the movie made a lot of dollars it's almost unwatchable. The property is a star vehicle but it has to be the right star-Constance Bennett, Janet Gaynor and Judy Garland all made it work for them. It would have worked for Babs if she hadn't insisted on playing with the formula but they were all established stars with personas that worked with the material they need to wait until an actress like that comes along, one who can really sing if they are going with the musical format.
The Streisand version was trashy and made worse by Streisand's egotism. Beyonce is a superstar but watching someone who can't act just isn't my idea of a good time. This isn't the sort of vehicle for a first time director either, but I guess Cooper has made so much money for the studios that he is now being handed a blank check.
If he wants to direct he should pick a fairly small budget film, a really good script, proven actors, and a veteran crew.
Beyonce should take some acting lessions and try a few cameo appearances on Empire.
I would actually like to see Beyonce dig into a meaty role like the one offered in A Star is Born. If she can perform like she did in Cadillac Records, and go even deeper into the character, then I think we will be in for a treat.
I was interested in this project when Clint was attached just because it was odd and I was interested in seeing what Beyonce could do with him. But this seems a bit messy now, I mean Bradley is talented, but starring in a role you don't fit that well AND directing for your first time in the directors chair? With someone who's not exactly know for her acting talents... actually this kinda sounds like a popcorn cult classic waiting to happen, I'm in. :p
I wonder what kind of discussion he and Clint had about it during American Sniper that lead him to directing it.